STEVENIt was another evening at the club with Boss and his friends. Seated in the private lounge, Dr. Gerald Daniels leaned back, swirling his drink idly, while Wilson Jack tapped a cigarette against his lighter without ever lighting it.I stood behind Boss, silent as always, watching.He sat relaxed, one arm draped over the back of the booth, fingers tapping an absent rhythm against the leather. But I knew better. He was deep in thought.“You’ve got a live grenade in your house, Oscar.” Wilson exhaled sharply, finally tucking his cigarette away. “And you’re pretending the pin’s still in.”Boss smirked, lifting his drink. “It’s handled.”Gerald chuckled, though there was no humor in it. “You keep saying that, but we all know Alicia doesn’t take orders.” He shot me a look, expecting agreement. I gave none, keeping my eyes ahead, unreadable.Wilson shook his head. “Damn shame, really. You survived the hospital, only to let a different kind of poison into your home.”The conversation sh
OSCAR GRAYMy arrival was met with silence. I took in the scene before me, unimpressed.Kristie, draped against the seat in a lazy sprawl, half-drunk and playing the victim. Wilson, lounging with that ever-present smirk, watching it all unfold like a spectator at a private show. Gerald, composed as always, studying the situation with an air of detached amusement.And standing awkwardly to the side, the waiter, gripping the leather billfold like it was a ticking bomb.My eyes flicked to the wine bottle on the table—Le Rêve Rouge. Already emptied.A rare bottle, with only a handful produced each year. The kind of wine that collectors hoarded, that connoisseurs cherished. The kind that cost a fortune.The waiter shifted uncomfortably, reluctant to speak but unwilling to leave without confirmation. He had served the wine because the order had come from my table. But now, he needed to know—who was paying?Kristie, of course, offered no indication that she intended to settle the bill. She m
STEVEN“Shut up, Kristie,” Boss snapped, pulling away from her grip. His voice was sharp, cutting through her arrogance like a whip. “Haven’t you done enough damage already?”Kristie’s smirk faltered, just for a moment, but it was enough to show the first crack in her confident façade.“Damage?” she repeated, her voice defensive. “You’re not some pawn in their game, Oscar. I won’t sit back and watch them force some lowlife on you.”Ava stiffened beside him. Her eyes flashed with a dangerous gleam as she stepped forward, her voice as cold as ice. “And who exactly are you calling a lowlife?”Kristie turned toward her with feigned innocence, placing a delicate hand on her chest, as though genuinely shocked.“Oh, darling, don’t take it personally,” she purred, her voice thick with mock concern. “But let’s be real—you don’t belong in his world. I do.”A mischievous smirk tugged at the corner of my lips, barely contained. Looking between the two women, it was painfully clear who truly belon
JAMESI found Kristie slumped over a cup of coffee at the dining table, her fingers absently tracing the rim of the porcelain mug. She was still in last night’s clothes—wrinkled, stained, and reeking faintly of perfume and alcohol. Bruises marred her arms, and her lower lip looked slightly swollen.I stopped in my tracks, studying her. “What the hell happened to you?”She barely looked up. “Nothing.”I scoffed. “That doesn’t look like nothing, Kristie.”She sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. “I fell.”I folded my arms. “Where?”She hesitated. “I… didn’t see a drainage and tripped into it.”I narrowed my eyes. “A drainage?”Kristie scowled. “Yes, James. A damn drainage. What’s with the interrogation?”Because she was lying. That much was obvious. But the way she clenched her jaw, daring me to press further, made me sigh in frustration.“You know what? Fine.” I sat down across from her. “Forget it.”Relieved, she turned away.Troubled, I began to tap my fingers on the table. My act infur
TILDAThe intercom buzzed just as I was finalizing a report. I sighed, rubbing my temples. It had been a long morning filled with back-to-back tasks, and I wasn’t in the mood for any more surprises.“Tilda, come to my office.” Mr. Gray’s voice came through the speaker, firm and commanding as always.I quickly saved my work and stood, smoothing my blouse before making my way to his office. As I entered, I immediately noticed that I wasn’t alone—Mr. Josh and Mr. Martin, two of the company’s senior directors, were seated across from him. Their expressions were unreadable, but the atmosphere in the room carried a certain weight.“Hand the Frost Peak file to Tilda,” Mr. Gray instructed, his voice leaving no room for discussion. “She will be in charge of the contract going forward.”A pause filled the room. Josh shifted in his seat, clearly hesitant.“Sir,” he started, his tone careful, “Are you sure—”Mr. Gray leaned forward slightly, cutting him off before he could finish. “Miss Tilda wil
OSCAR GRAYThe office was quieter now. It was the close of work and most employees prepared to leave for the day. The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the glass windows, casting golden streaks across the tiled floor.I loosened my tie slightly, exhaling. Tilda.I found myself walking toward her desk before I had even made the conscious decision.She was focused on some documents, her brows slightly furrowed, lips pursed in concentration. A strand of hair had fallen over her face, and she tucked it behind her ear absentmindedly.My lips twitched. I leaned over her desk, placing my hand beside hers. "Still working this late?" My voice was softer than I intended.Tilda glanced up, her eyes meeting mine, and in that moment, the weight of the day seemed to dissipate. Her expression, usually composed, flickered with something lighter—something close to warmth."Just reviewing some details on Frost Peak Ltd.," she murmured, her voice carrying the same calm poise that had begun t
ALICIAThe moment I stepped into Monsieur King’s estate, I knew something was off.I had envisioned a warm reception—maybe not overly affectionate, but at least cordial. Yet, the chilling air inside wasn’t just from the temperature. It was from the man seated before me, his gaze indifferent, his posture unreadable.I swallowed, but my smile didn’t waver.With a practiced elegance, I stepped forward and presented the gifts I had carefully selected.“Grandpa, I brought you some things I know you’ll love—rare teas, excellent for the bones, exotic fruits that are hard to come by, and this ointment for muscle relief.”He didn’t move. Didn’t even spare the items a glance.Instead, his fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair, slow and deliberate.The silence pressed against me, but I refused to let it crush my resolve.Still smiling, I turned to the servants, handing the items to them instead. “Take these to the kitchen and make sure Monsieur gets his tea properly brewed. The ointmen
ALICIA’S POVI froze. She was naked, her fingers grazing the delicate lace of my lingerie. “Kristie,” I called, consumed in rage.She startled, her grip on the fabric tightening as she spun around. For a brief second, I saw it—fear. But it vanished the moment she recognized me. In its place was utter disdain.“You,” she spat, her lip curling in contempt.I took a step forward, arms crossed over my chest. “What are you doing with my underwear?” I gnashed my teeth. “How did you get in here?”Kristie didn’t move. The tension crackled between us like an exposed wire, dangerous and unpredictable.Then she let out a slow, mocking laugh. “I don’t need permission to be here.”I scoffed. “You certainly do.”Her smile widened, barely reaching her eyes. “Oh, Alicia, don’t act so high and mighty. You’re not the queen of this house, no matter how desperately you pretend to be.”A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “And you are?” I took a deliberate step closer. “Breaking into a man’s house to flaunt y
OSCAR GRAYI returned home elated. Tilda was finally getting the happiness she deserved and soon she will be able to recover everything that was wrongly stolen from her.However, the main reason for my happiness was the fact that she had agreed to be my girlfriend. It may not be marriage as I wanted but it was a step in the right direction. Soon, she will come to realize just how much she loves me and marry me.“Hey, darling,” Alicia greeted me by the door.Draped a thin see-through nighties, and swaying her hips seductively a sultry smile playing on her lips.“You are back quite early today. Guess what? I made your favorite French crepes pancake.”“I am not hungry,” I replied.“Really,” she frowned. “I spent the whole day in the kitchen making those, Oscar.”“You don’t have to do anything for me, Alicia.” I reminded her.I continued to the room while she followed behind me expressing her displeasure.“I wanted it to be just like old times, honey. I already set up the roof top. We wil
JAMESAs Megan explained, my mind dwelled on my encounter with Miranda at the mall. I still couldn’t help but wonder if by chance she had any information on Tilda.Occasionally, I nodded at Megan as she tried to get my attention but my mind remained far off. Was Tilda still alive? If she was, I must find her at all cost.Megan she handed a document to me. “Here is the document, James, sign it right away.”Confused, I only stared at the document. “Docu... ment,” I stuttered. “What is it for?”Megan got pissed. “What have you been thinking, James. I said it is for the loan. We need this loan to hire a more qualified lawyer for our case.”Kristie hissed. “He is never bothered about our predicament. He can always return to the slum where he belongs.”I remained quiet. The disturbing rumor about Kristie’s shamefully flirting with Oscar Gray was all over the place but I had initially chose to ignore until Shantel’s birthday.However, that was the least of my concern. I shouldn’t expect any
JAMESThe same old Miranda—always looking so youthful and happy. Seeing her standing before me brought back a flood of memories. It felt as if it was only yesterday that she was sitting with Tilda in our house, chatting about everything and nothing.“I bet. And what about Tilda? Have you heard from her?” I asked, keeping my tone casual, though my heart pounded with anticipation.“No, not really. She’s been... out of touch,” she replied, her voice even, but I wasn’t convinced. Miranda had never been good at lying. There was hesitation in her eyes, a slight flicker of something unsaid.I studied her closely, searching for any crack in her façade. But Miranda simply smiled, keeping up the polite act. Perhaps she truly didn’t know where Tilda was, or perhaps she was protecting her. Either way, I wasn’t going to push. Not yet.I nodded, acting as if I accepted her response. “I see. Well, if you do hear from her, tell her I’d love to catch up.”Miranda hesitated for only a fraction of a sec
TILDABy the time we arrived at the restaurant later that evening, the tension that had settled between us during the day had softened into something warm, something comfortable. The ambiance was inviting—dim lighting, a soft hum of conversation, and a live band playing slow jazz.As we sat across from each other in a quiet corner, I found myself smiling more than I should. He had this way of pulling me into his world, making everything else fade away.He told me a story from his childhood, about how he got lost at a festival and spent the evening with a kind old couple who mistook him for their grandson.“I didn’t even realize I was missing until my grandfather found me,” he admitted with a chuckle. “I was too busy enjoying their stories and the candied apples they kept feeding me.”I laughed softly, resting my chin on my hand. “You must have been adorable as a child.”He smirked, tilting his head. “I still am.”I rolled my eyes, but my heart did something strange—something warm and
KRISTIEDylan looked up. “Mr. Gray is here now,” he said to his siblings. “We should go home.”Without a second glance at me, the kids left.I smirked. I wasn’t going to let this moment slip away. I strode forward and caught Oscar’s arm just as he was about to enter the vehicle.“Oscar,” I purred, my voice sweet yet urgent.His eyes darkened as he turned to face me.“I know about the kids now,” I whispered, tightening my grip on his sleeve. “What do you think the world will say when they learn of your secret affair?” I smirked. “You have to give in to me, Oscar.”His jaw clenched, but he said nothing.Instead, he exhaled sharply, his forehead creasing in irritation. Without a word, he stepped into the car, shutting the door in my face.The driver pulled away, leaving me standing alone.The next moment, Lady Sheila stepped out. “We are done here, Kristie,” she called to me.I went over to her. “Lady Sheila, how did it go?”I was enthusiastic as I gripped her wrist anxiously anticipatin
OSCAR GRAYLady Sheila’s eyes flicked between Grandfather and me, her smile poised, practiced. I could already predict the words forming on her lips. She had come with Kristie—no further proof was needed.Confidently, she settled into her seat, her voice as smooth as ever. “Monsieur King, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have Kristie as part of the family?”She glanced toward him, gauging his reaction and when there was none, she went on. “She’s always been devoted to Oscar, and I believe she—”“No,” Grandfather cut in, his voice even but firm.Lady Sheila’s expression barely faltered, but I caught the flicker of irritation in her eyes.“Now, now,” she chuckled lightly, waving a delicate hand. “There’s no need to be so dismissive, dear. Surely, you can acknowledge that Kristie has more potential of being loyal.”“She’s been persistent,” I corrected, my voice devoid of warmth.Grandfather folded his arms, his gaze steady. “Sheila, we appreciate your years of dedication to the family. But th
OSCAR GRAY“What do they want here,” I whispered to grandpa. “You should have informed me of their visit.”“Ah, Lady Sheila,” Grandpa said, his tone polite but distant. He pulled me closer. “I am just as surprised, boy.”Grandpa’s pleasant mood vanished instantly. It was all due to Kristie’s presence. As for Sheila, she was always welcomed to the house.Lady Sheila smiled gracefully. “Monsieur King, it’s been too long.”She cast a brief glance at Kristie, who stepped forward, clearly eager to make an impression. However, before she could speak, the kids burst back into the room, freshly cleaned and full of energy.The shift in atmosphere was immediate. Lady Sheila’s expression faltered. Kristie’s eyes widened in shock. They had not expected to see the quadruplets here.A brief silence fell over the room.Denzel was the first to break it, tilting his head curiously at the two women. “Who... why are they, Mr. Gray?”He shot a glance at me. They must feel that I had invited the ladies ov
KRISTIEA mistake?Tense, I drew in a deep breath, heat blooming beneath my skin.Lady Sheila was my last hope, she was the only one that could get Monsieur King to drop his resentment against my family. Monsieur King would never ignore her.“Yes Kristie. Your marriage,” Sheila continued. “You marriage to James might be a sham, but it will stand on your way of getting Oscar. Such an arrangement doesn’t speak well of you.”I swallowed hard. Sheila doesn’t know the whole truth. I and my mother appeared like the victims to her. She mustn’t know that we’ve orchestrated this from the start and James was the pawn all along..“I had to do it, aunt. Our family was going to lose everything to James and that was the least I could do.”“I understand dear,” Sheila patted me.“The court case,” I admitted. “James couldn’t afford a competent lawyer. We could lose everything.”Sheila’s gaze turned calculating.“Leave that to me,” she said coolly. “Right now, we need to focus on Oscar. If Alicia stays
TILDA“Not possible?” Miranda’s brows drew together. “Why?”I paused. For weeks, I’d buried the truth. Locked it away. Pretended it never happened. But I was exhausted from carrying the weight alone.So I told her—about the night I was robbed. The moment everything vanished. My savings. My future. Diamond’s future. Gone in a blink.The ring... unrecoverable.Miranda’s face went pale. “Tilda…” she breathed.“I didn’t even tell the police,” I admitted. “I was scared. And ashamed. That money was everything.”She reached for my hand. Her grip was steady, grounding. “You haven’t failed,” she said. “You still have your job. Your kids. And me.”Tears pricked at the back of my eyes. I blinked rapidly, but they came anyway.“You’ll work hard,” she continued. “You’ll rebuild. You’ll secure a better future for your children. And you will rise again.”I exhaled, shaky but real. For the first time since last night, a flicker of hope sparked in my chest.I nodded slowly, wiping my eyes with the bac